Messi names football’s next 10 superstars, Boca Juniors wonderkid makes the list

Lionel Messi has turned his attention to the future of football by highlighting 10 of the sport’s most promising young talents, with Boca Juniors’ rising star Tomas Aranda among the names featured in a new advertising campaign for the renowned three-stripe sportswear brand.

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Las nuevas estrellas del futuro para Lionel Messi: 🇦🇷 Tomás Aranda 🇹🇷 Can Uzun 🇲🇽 Gilberto Mora 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Max Dowman 🇺🇸 Zavier Gozo 🇪🇸 Jesús Rodríguez 🇳🇱 Kees Smit 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Chloe Sarwie 🇧🇷 Giovanna Waksman 🇩🇪 Lotta Wrede ¿Opiniones? https://t.co/9KfXOQsWQ1

— Pablo Giralt (@giraltpablo) October 11, 2026

 “Ten chapters that rewrite the future of the game. This is a story that is only just beginning,” the campaign’s narrator said, celebrating the next generation of football stars who could shape the sport in the years ahead.

Aranda’s inclusion is particularly exciting for Argentine football fans, as the young Boca Juniors player continues to attract attention for his technical ability and creativity.

The talented playmaker reportedly caught the eye of Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who included him in the squad for a pre-World Cup friendly tour. However, Aranda is currently recovering from a fractured fibula in his right leg as he works toward returning to action.

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Messi’s selection also features several promising talents from across the world, including Turkey’s Can Uzun of Eintracht Frankfurt, Mexico’s Gilberto Mora of Tijuana, and England’s Max Dowman of Arsenal. The list further highlights the growing influence of young players in women’s football, with England’s Chloe Sarwie, Brazil’s Giovanna Waksman, and Germany’s Lotta Wrede also earning recognition.

The campaign reflects Messi’s continued influence on the global game, extending beyond his achievements on the pitch to the emerging generation hoping to follow in the footsteps of football’s biggest icons. For Boca Juniors supporters, Aranda’s presence on the list makes the selection even more special, offering another reason to look forward to what the young Argentine could achieve in the future.

Messi’s 10 picks for the next generation of world football:

1.    Tomas Aranda — Argentina, Boca Juniors
2.    Can Uzun — Turkiye, Eintracht Frankfurt
3.    Gilberto Mora — Mexico, Tijuana
4.    Max Dowman — England, Arsenal
5.    Zavier Gozo — United States, Crystal Palace
6.    Jesus Rodríguez — Spain, Como 1907
7.    Kees Smit — Netherlands, AZ Alkmaar
8.    Chloe Sarwie — England, Chelsea
9.    Giovanna Waksman — Brazil, OL Lyonnes
10.Lotta Wrede — Germany, Hamburger SV